Paris, Feb 23 .- A student protest against police violence in the wake of an alleged police assault of a young man in a Paris suburb earlier in the month ended in confrontations between protesters and police Thursday.

About 1,000 school students staged an unauthorized protest in Place de la Nation in Paris, calling for "revenge" over the assault of Aulnay-sous-Bois resident Theo, a 22-year-old black man who was hospitalized for an anal tear after police officers allegedly sexually assaulted him with a nightstick following his arrest.

A group of youths reportedly made graffiti, smashed shop windows and threw objects at the police, who then responded with tear gas.

The protesting students had previously blocked the entrances to about 20 high schools with piled up trash cans.

In scenes captured by an epa photographer, one school entrance appeared to be blocked almost halfway up by a stack of trash cans and barriers.

The demonstration began peacefully, though a large number of security forces were deployed.

An investigation into the alleged assault on Theo was opened and four officers were accused of being involved in the violent episode and one of them of rape.

The incident sparked protests and unrest in suburbs of the capital and beyond in the days afterward, which saw vehicles being burned and clashes with the police. (EFE)